US6751320B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for preventing reproduction of professional photographs
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2001-06-14
•
Granted: 2004-06-15
•
Expires: 2021-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A reproduction apparatus (e.g., photo kiosk) includes a lens for imaging a customer-provided original onto an opto-electronic detector for producing image data, and a reproduction system for producing a copy therefrom. Images that are to be resistant against copying on such apparatuses can be printed on photographic emulsion medium having a subliminal marking. The marking can be detected from visible-light scan data corresponding to the medium, yet such marking is inconspicuous upon human inspection. The apparatus passes the scan data to a processor that looks for evidence of such a marking. If found, the processor issues a signal that interrupts a usual reproduction-making process of the apparatus. The system is useful, e.g., to prevent unauthorized copying of professional photographs, such as wedding portraits.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G06T1/0064; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/16; G06F21/30; G06F21/44; G06F21/445; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; G06K19/06046; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1408; G06K7/1417; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1447; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/306; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/16; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; H04L9/00; H04L9/06; H04L9/065; H04L9/0656; H04L9/0662; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00005; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/00071; H04N1/00074; H04N1/00079; H04N1/00838; H04N1/0084; H04N1/00843; H04N1/00846; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00875; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/3216; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32352; H04W; H04W12/00; H04W12/06; H04W12/12; H04W12/126; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2129; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06253; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0081; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; H04M3/00; H04M3/38; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0091; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3274; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/042; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/24868; Y10T428/24876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In a reproduction apparatus including a lens for imaging a customer-provided input medium onto an opto-electronic detector for producing image data, and a reproduction system for producing an output medium having an image formed thereon in accordance with said image data, an improvement comprising: an input photographic emulsion medium having thereon a marking, said marking being discernable from image data produced by the opto-electronic detector when the input medium is scanned with visible light illumination, yet said marking is inconspicuous upon human inspection of said medium; a memory for receiving said data from the opto-electronic detector and providing same to a processor; and a control circuit responsive to a signal output from said processor, the control circuit interrupting a usual reproduction-making process of said reproduction system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a reproduction apparatus including a lens for imaging a customer-provided input medium onto an opto-electronic detector for producing image data, and a reproduction system for producing an output medium having an image formed thereon in accordance with said image data, an improvement comprising: an input photographic emulsion medium having thereon a marking, said marking being discernable from image data produced by the opto-electronic detector when the input medium is scanned with visible light illumination, yet said marking is inconspicuous upon human inspection of said medium; a memory for receiving said data from the opto-electronic detector and providing same to a processor; and a control circuit responsive to a signal output from said processor, the control circuit interrupting a usual reproduction-making process of said reproduction system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the image data stored in the memory serves both as an input to the processor that interrupts said usual reproduction-making process if the marking is present, and also serves to define an image that is produced by the apparatus if the marking is absent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the opto-electronic detector serves both in sensing said marking—if present, and also capturing an image to be reproduced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a reproduction apparatus including a lens for imaging a customer-provided input medium onto an opto-electronic detector for producing image data, and a reproduction system for producing an output medium in accordance with said image data, an improved method of operation including: providing to said apparatus an input photographic emulsion medium having thereon a marking, said marking being discernable from image data produced by the opto-electronic detector when the input medium is scanned with visible light illumination, yet said marking is inconspicuous upon human inspection of said medium; providing said image data to a processor; receiving from said processor a control signal indicating detection of said marking; and interrupting a usual reproduction-making process of said reproduction system in response to said control signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a reproduction apparatus including a lens for imaging a customer-provided input medium onto an opto-electronic detector for producing image data, and a reproduction system for producing an output medium in accordance with said image data, an improved method of operation including: providing to said apparatus an input photographic emulsion medium having thereon a marking, said marking being discernable from image data produced by the opto-electronic detector when the input medium is scanned with visible light illumination, yet said marking is inconspicuous upon human inspection of said medium; providing said image data to a processor; receiving from said processor a control signal indicating detection of said marking; and interrupting a usual reproduction-making process of said reproduction system in response to said control signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 in which said marking data encodes plural bits of auxiliary data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 that includes processing the image data to yield said control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 in which said processing discerns the presence of said marking notwithstanding a rotational misalignment of said medium from a correct alignment thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 in which said processing includes performing a plurality of statistical analyses on said image data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 in which said processing includes performing a spectral analysis of the image data to discern spectral components thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 in which said processing includes transforming the image data to a spatial frequency domain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 which further includes identifying a pattern in said frequency domain data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 in which said image data also serves to define an image that is produced by the apparatus if the marking is absent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-15 | 2007-12-15 | 2008-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-15 | 2011-12-15 | 2012-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-15 | 2015-12-15 | 2016-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |